Heidelberg.jpg EsikatselukuvatDanish reefer ship Mexican Reefer in the port of Antwerp, about 1962.EsikatselukuvatDanish reefer ship Mexican Reefer in the port of Antwerp, about 1962.EsikatselukuvatDanish reefer ship Mexican Reefer in the port of Antwerp, about 1962.
1941: keel laid for cargo ship Mannheim, planned to become a merchant cruiser (raider) for the German Navy/Kriegsmarine.
19 Nov 1942: launched by the Deutsche Werft A.G., Hamburg-Finkenwärder.
1943: during completion seriously damaged by an Allied air raid in the harbour, laid up, no further attempt made to resume building during wartime.
1945: partly submerged hulk taken over by British authorities, should be handed over to the Soviet Union as war reparation according to the Tripartite Merchant Marine Commission (TMMC listing No 1416).
1948: with the emerging of the cold war the flooded but salvageable hulk was somehow hidden and forgotten in the Hamburg harbour, eventually Mannheim was not delivered to the USSR.
1949/1950: the Hamburg-America Line received Allied permission to rebuilt the ship for the German trade.
1952: wreck salvaged by the Deutsche Werft, completely rebuilt as the turbine ship Heidelberg, yard number 656.
9 March 1953: delivered to the Hamburg-America Line.
Tonnage: 9185 grt, loading capacity 9500 tdw as shelter decker, maximum deadweight of 11,480 tdw. Powered by a Berlin-built AEG geared turbine with 9000 H.P.(overload 9900 H.P.), service speed of 16½ kn. Crew of 58, plus 12 passengers.
10 March 1953: left Hamburg on its maiden voyage bound for New York; in its further career also used as a training ship for HAPAG crewmembers; afterwards put into service on the Far East route.
28 Dec 1958: in collsion with the Belgian motor lighter Ampilo (1049 tdw / 1930) on the River Schelde, causing heavy damage to Ampilo.
1961: suffered an engine breakdown while steaming southbound in the Red Sea, had to be towed for 4 days to Aden by the inshore-built cargo ship Mercator (1934 grt / 1954).
1 Dec 1966: sold to Greece to San Basilio Cia. Maritima, renamed Eurystheus, port of registry Panama City.
1968: resold to Liberia, renamed Union Evelyn for Space Maritime Corp., Monrovia.
1969: sold to International Union Lines, Monrovia, renamed Union Companion.
2 Sept 1973: arrived at breaking Yard Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Name had been shortened to Companion for final voyage.
1974: scrapping completed.

Text: Sebastian Boreck, Berlin.
Photograph: Photo-workshop St Pauli-alnding bridges, Hamburg.